What’s Miss France 2012 going to do now - goodbye dear ‘mademoiselle’….

Whilst we are passionate about equality in this modern world and fiercely defend the individuals right to be who they are and what they are we did feel a little sad this week when we learnt that the French Government are to banish the word ‘mademoiselle’ from all official forms and registries. 

It has long been the case (since 1690 in fact and entering  into official use when Napoleon I created the French Civil Code ) that on all official documents there has been a choice of ‘Mademoiselle’, ‘Madame’ or ‘Monsieur ‘  in all places where you need to give your name.

The move came after several months of advocacy campaigning from two French feminist organizations who have long argued that the word ‘mademoiselle’ makes reference without justification or necessity to a woman’s matrimonial status.  This is directly opposite to the word monsieur which is applied to all adult men. 

Of course that is right and yes we recognize the fact the UK now widely use the expression Ms. and Germany have already banished the word ‘Fraulein’ but we can’t help thinking that there is a little loss of romanticism from the French language here.

Should ‘le Madame Francaise’ now worry , as some opposing groups have identified, that the loss of the word ‘mademoiselle’ dilutes the impression of youth and should we all worry that this now complicates matters for ‘le Monsieur Francais’?

 And we can’t help wondering what the lovely Delphine Wespiser, Miss France 2012 is going to do now ……..?

‘Au revoir ma belle mademoiselle’